Topic: Federal Spending and Taxes

A $1.2 billion surplus enabled lawmakers to boost spending in several areas including transportation projects boost in funding. Also, the Senate confirmed the head of the Department of Economic Opportunity and lawmakers nixed a requirement that jobless benefit seekers must take a skills test . Read more . . .

House and Senate budget negotiators have agreed to $167.7 million in funding for affordable housing programs next fiscal year. The figure is more for the programs than in recent years, but $58.5 million will swept from the affordable housing trust fund.

The chambers embarked on the budget conference process Monday night as they haggle over how to spend about $75 billion in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

The chambers' spending plans are closer than in recent years as lawmakers enjoy a $1.2 billion projected surplus. The differences will be worked out over the next several weeks. Lawmakers have until early May to pass a spending plan.

House Democratic leaders criticized their chamber's $75.3 billion spending plan Monday, but the opposition from the minority party is not as unified as it has been in recent years to Republican budgets.

Meanwhile, troubles continue for jobless Floridians trying to get benefits because of continuing problems with the Department of Economic Opportunity's $63 million computerized unemployment system. And U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says federal officials will come to Florida to help state officials with the Connect system glitches.

The governor requests that lawmakers approve record transportation spending, which he contends will help spur trade and jobs in the state.

Many problems with the switch to the new unemployment system two months ago have been fixed, but many claimants still see a lag in benefits. ... Related Research: Unemployment Insurance Data Summary and Monthly Program & Financial Data from the U.S. Department of Labor, and CONNECT System Daily Update for Monday, December 2, 2013.

Traditional retail stores have long pushed for an Internet sales tax, but legislation at the state and federal level faces long odds.

Barring an unforeseen upswing in unemployment, Florida should not have to borrow from the federal government to pay jobless claims, state economists said Monday. But a dip in the benefits paid out last month, probably because the switch to a new unemployment system caused significant delays, resulted in a hiccup in the latest projections.

Gov. Rick Scott and other Republican elected officials slammed the lack of progress in federal government shutdown and debt ceiling talks. They did not, however, specifically criticize a strategy by congressional Republicans to shut down the government if President Barack Obama did not agree to defund the Affordable Care Act, his signature piece of legislation. ... Related Research: Oct. 2013 Florida TaxWatch report, "What the Government Shutdown & Debt Ceiling Crisis Mean to Florida&am;

For Florida to diversify its economy in the long term, it will have to rely on a traditional sector -- tourism -- to produce the revenue necessary to fund investments in infrastructure to move the state toward becoming an international trading hub. ... Related Research: Trade and Logistics 2.0 report from the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Several state agencies and programs will be affected by the shutdown, with the severity depending on the length of the federal budget impasse. ... Related Research: Drafts of Florida Senate Reports on the Federal Government Shutdown.

Florida's chief economist Amy Baker told a House budget panel the positive projections for the state budget could quickly turn around depending on the outcome of two federal budget crises. ... Related Research: Sept. 25, 2013 House Appropriations Committee meeting packet and video.